Children&#39;s socks

ABSTRACT

A child&#39;s sock includes a sock body having an upper portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a toe portion. At least one connector is secured to the sock body and is adapted to connect with a complementary connector of a complementary sock.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to socks, and more particularly to children's socks having an educational and connecting feature for preventing separation during laundering.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Each year, moms across the globe spend thousands of dollars on new socks for their children. In many instances, socks become separated after being laundered and can never be matched back to their other half. This results in extremely messy sock drawers, lost socks and the occasional wearing of two different, but similar looking socks by the child.

There have been many attempts to remedy this problem through the use of secondary items such as clips, discs, drawer organizers and mesh laundry bags, for example. To this end, traditional laundry clips and pins have a tendency to fall off during a laundering procedure and have been known to cause damage to the socks. Likewise, mesh laundry bags are time consuming to load and unload, and often prevent thorough cleaning of the socks by the washing machine.

In addition to the above, many parents do laundry with assistance from their small children. To this end, the parents will often allow the child to “help” with the laundry by matching and folding their own socks. While this may be good in theory, there is no entertainment and/or educational value for the child, who quickly becomes bored with the repetitious procedure.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide children's socks having an integrated connector capable of providing entertainment and educational value to the child that does not suffer from the drawbacks discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a child's sock. One embodiment of the present invention can include a sock body having an upper portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a toe portion, that are adapted to receive the foot of a user. The sock also includes at least one connector that is adapted to secure a pair of socks together in a removable fashion in order to allow the socks to remain joined throughout a laundering process.

Another embodiment of a child's sock further includes at least one visual aid for assisting a child to match pairs of socks based on similar numbers, shapes, colors and the like.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a child's sock that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the child's sock in operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the child's sock in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the child's sock in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the child's sock in accordance with the alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

Identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1.

Although described herein as a child's sock, the invention can be realized by matching a pair of individual socks referred to as a sock and a complementary sock.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a child's sock that illustrates the inventive concepts disclosed herein. As shown, the child's sock 10 can include a main body 11 and an integrated connector 20.

The sock body 11 can be constructed from conventional materials such as cotton, wool, yarn and/or textile fibers in accordance with known manufacturing techniques, and can include an upper portion 11 a, a heel portion 11 b, a sole portion 11 c and a toe portion 11 d. An opening 12 is disposed along the upper portion of the sock to receive the foot and ankle of a wearer W.

The connector 20 can act as a mechanism for creating a temporary bond between the sock 10 and a complementary sock 10′ to create a pair of socks. As such, the connector can be secured to the upper portion of the sock 11 a, preferably at a location that will be above the ankle of the wearer when the sock is in use. The connector can be permanently secured to the main body 11 via a seam fastener 21, such as sewed stitches, hem tape, liquid seams, fabric adhesives and the like.

In one preferred embodiment, the connector of each sock can include strips of hook and/or loop material (i.e., VELCRO) that are configured to join the socks together when engaged. Hook and loop material is extremely well known in the art and can act to form a strong, yet temporary bond that is not affected by water, so as to withstand the rigors of a conventional washing and drying machine.

As socks are traditionally provided in pairs, the following description will illustrate two separate socks identified as the sock 10 and a complementary sock 10′. As described herein, a complementary sock 10′ can include a main body 11′ that is virtually identical to the main body 11 described above with respect to shape, size, design and/or construction materials. A complementary connector 20′ is also provided in order to join with the connector 20 of sock 10. The combination of socks 10 and 10′ being referred to herein as a pair of socks.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a pair of socks 10 and 10′ which can be joined together, see arrow a, via the sock connectors in order to prevent separation during the laundering process. As described above, in one preferred embodiment, strips of hook and loop material are utilized as the connector to create a bond between the pair of socks. Accordingly, in the present example, connector 20 can include an elongated strip of hook material 20 a, and the complementary connector 20′ can include an elongated strip of loop material 20 a′.

Of course, this is for illustrative purposes only, as those of skill in the art will recognize that other means for connecting the socks together in a removable fashion can also be utilized. To this end, the connector of each sock can include virtually any device capable of creating a temporary bond between two items. Several non-limiting examples include, complementary compression fittings such as snaps and buttons, as well as magnetic elements having opposite polarities.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a child's sock 10 that includes one or more visual aids 30 for assisting a user, such as a child or parent, for example, to match pairs of socks based on similar visual features. As described herein, each visual aid 30 can be secured to the main body of the sock at any location via a seam fastener 21. The visual aids can include any number of different markings such as pictures, words, numbers, symbols, shapes, colors and/or patterns, for example.

In operation, the visual aid 30 of the child's sock 10 can be matched with a corresponding visual aid 30′ of the complementary sock 10′ to form the pair. To this end, a corresponding visual aid 30′ can also include any number of markings such as pictures, words, numbers, symbols, shapes, colors and/or patterns. Visual aid 30′ can be identical to visual aid 30, (see the star shape) or can be different (consecutive numbers “4” and “5”).

In addition to allowing a user to quickly and easily identify matching socks, the visual aids 30 and 30′ can serve as a tool for allowing parents to teach children to identify and match complementary shapes, pictures, colors and/or numbers, for example. Such a feature can provide educational and entertainment value to a child while assisting a parent with the laundry. As further illustrated in FIG. 3, each sock can include multiple connectors 20 and/or visual aids 30 which can be secured onto the main body at any location.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the sock 10, wherein the connector is integrated into the visual aid 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the connector can include a magnet 20 b that is located between the main body 11 and the visual aid 30. As such, a complementary sock 10′ can be provided having a complementary shape 30′ and integrated connector that includes another magnetic element 20 b′ having an opposite polarity. Likewise, in FIG. 5, the connector can include strips of hook and loop material 20 a that is secured to the outside portion of the visual aid 30 for mating with a complementary sock 10′ having a complementary visual aid 30′ and a hook and loop connector 20 a′.

By integrating the visual aid with the connector, it becomes possible to align the complementary shapes of two socks together and to directly join the same via the shapes themselves, thereby creating a more aesthetically pleasing final product.

Accordingly, by providing child's socks with integrated connectors and/or visual aids, the presently claimed invention provides a mechanism for speeding the laundry process, while simultaneously providing an entertaining and educational experience to a user. Additionally, as the pair of socks remains joined after being washed and dried, it can be deposited directly into the sock drawer of the wearer without requiring folding. Such a feature provides additional time savings to the launderer.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sock, comprising: a sock body having an upper portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a toe portion, said upper portion including an opening for receiving a foot of a user; and at least one connector that is secured to the sock body via a seam fastener, each of the at least one connector being configured to create a temporary bond with a complementary connector of a complementary sock that can withstand a laundering procedure.
 2. The sock of claim 1, wherein one of said at least one connector is secured to the sock body along the upper portion.
 3. The sock of claim 1, wherein the seam fastener includes at least one of a permanent stitch, hem tape, liquid seam and a fabric adhesive.
 4. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector is constructed from a strip of hook and loop material.
 5. The sock of claim 1, further comprising at least one visual aid that is secured to the sock body via another seam fastener, said visual aid being located at a location that is different from the connector.
 6. The sock of claim 1, wherein said visual aid including at least one of a picture, word, number, symbol, shape, and color.
 7. A sock, comprising: a sock body having an upper portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a toe portion, said upper portion including an opening for receiving a foot of a user; a visual aid that is secured to the upper portion of the sock body via a seam fastener; and a connector that is integrated into the visual aid, said connector being configured to removeably secure the sock body to a complementary sock body.
 8. The sock of claim 7, wherein the visual aid includes at least one of a picture, word, number, symbol, shape, and color.
 9. The sock of claim 7, wherein the connector includes a magnetic element that is interposed between the visual aid and the sock body.
 10. The sock of claim 7, wherein the connector includes a strip of hook and loop material that is secured to an outside facing surface of the visual aid.
 11. The sock of claim 7, further comprising: a second visual aid that is secured to the sock body.
 12. A pair of child's socks, comprising: a first sock that includes a first sock body having an upper portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a toe portion, said upper portion including an opening for receiving a foot of a user, a visual aid that is secured to the first sock body, and a first sock connector that is integrated into the visual aid; and a complementary sock that includes a complementary sock body having an upper portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a toe portion, said upper portion including an opening for receiving another foot of the user, a complementary visual aid that is secured to the complementary sock body, and a complementary sock connector that is integrated into the complementary visual aid, wherein the first sock connector and the complementary sock connector are configured to engage in a removable manner.
 13. The socks of claim 12, wherein the visual aid and the complementary visual aid include an identical shape.
 14. The socks of claim 12, wherein the visual aid and the complementary visual aid include a different shape from each other.
 15. The socks of claim 12, wherein the connector and the complementary connector include opposing strips of hook and loop material.
 16. The socks of claim 12, wherein the connector and the complementary connector include opposing magnetic elements. 